Press & Media
Welcome to our Press & Media page, your hub for insightful articles, captivating videos, and a glimpse into our impressive collection of awards. Explore our engaging content and witness the impact we've made in the industry.
Articles
Here are some articles that we’ve featured in:
‘A day in the life of an… entrepreneur, Aisha Thomas’, The Careers Company, Sept 2023
‘How to Promote an inclusive environment in your school’, BBC
‘Women’s History Month 2023: Aisha, Sara and Verity’, UWE Bristol, March 2023
‘Interview with Aisha Thomas’, African Voices Forum, page 6, Issues 8, Spring 2023
‘Sowing the Seeds of Anti-Racism’, Educate Magazine, Sept/Oct 2022
‘The 40 Coolest Bristol People Right Now’, The Bristol, Oct 2022
‘Bristol Book Helps Teachers Become Anti-Racist Educators’, BBC, June 2022
‘Black Maternity Matters: maternity care improvement project’, Maternity & Midwifery Forum, May 2022
‘Be Seen, Be Heard, Be Included’, Educate, March/April 2021, page 14/15
‘Beyond the 26: Online Campaign Celebrates BAME Teachers’, BBC, Sept 2020
‘From a Whisper to a Shout’, The Bristol Magazine, page 48/49, Sept 2020
‘Celebrating Women of Our Community’, Up Our Street, Feb 2020
‘I Didn’t Know How Bad the Lack of BAME Staff Was’, B24/7, Dec 2018
‘We Only Have 26 Black Teachers Out of 1346 in Bristol’, Bristol Live, Sept 2018
Podcasts / Radio
And some audio conversations if you prefer listening:
Awards
We’re proud to have been recognised for the following awards:
Bristol Mum Awards 2023 – Winner for Inspirational Mum of the Year
Beatsbydre BHM 2022 – UK recognition
Rise Award Winner 2022 – Entrepreneur of the Year
Baton Award Winner 2021 – Paulette Wilson, Campaigner of the Year
Nourish Your Community 2021 – Winner
Nominated for a National Diversity award 2021 – Positive Role Model of the year
Bristol Diversity Awards 2020 – Positive Role Model for Race & Ethnicity
Thank You Award 2017 – Winner
Key Achievements
Key Achievements that we are proud to have accomplished:
Filmed a BBC Documentary, 2018
Crossing Coasts Top Trump Cards, 2023 (see image)
Published Representation Matters Book, May 2022
Listed as Bristol’s Top 40 Coolest People (Number 37), Oct 2022
Front Cover of BHM 2020 (Bristol)
Hosted an In Conversation at Waterstones: Aisha Thomas & Ibram X Kendi, July 2022
Listed in Top 30 to watch list, UWE 30th anniversary celebration, 2023
We believe we can all play a role inspiring the next generation. #RepresentationMatters
Video Hub
TEDxBristol 2019: Why Representation Really Matters
Aisha Thomas's TEDx talk challenges us to imagine a world where all races are represented in all aspects of life. Where children grow up with a sense of value, connection and understanding of difference.
Bristol Distinguished Address Series
In the first episode of the Spring 2023 Bristol Distinguished Address Series, Aisha is joined in conversation with Dr Craig Johnston where they discuss artificial practice, equity, justice, liberation and why representation really does matter.
SET Squared Bristol
Aisha Thomas speaks with Enterprising Women about the Set Square Program and how it has helped her business.
BHM Front Cover Spotlight 2020
Aisha Thomas speaks to BHM about the importance of representation for our younger generations and sowing seeds of representation.
City Academy's Black History Month on BBC Points West
City Academy Bristol is one of four pilot schools in Bristol trialling the addition of more Black History across their curriculum.
BBC: How to be a better ally to your students: black allies
Aisha states the importance of protecting young people from racism and safeguarding being everyone’s responsibility. She emphasises the need for teachers to acknowledge that racism exists and to take quick action when students report racist incidents.
Flair: Dealing with Racist Incidents in Schools
What constitutes a racist incident, and how can schools not only ensure they deal with it in an appropriate and timely manner, but also take a preventative approach to create safe environments? Join an expert panel as we delve into dealing with racist incidents in schools, including our Lead Associate Shauna Stewart.
Lack of black teachers 'shocking' - BBC News
A BBC Inside Out West investigation has found there are 26 working in Bristol's secondary schools, out of more than 1,300 teachers, which equates to just 1.9% of teachers currently employed in the city. Aisha asked her white boss if he was the right person to be leading the multi-racial school.
Mind the Gap, Ep. 57 (S3E13)
Aisha Thomas joins hosts Tom Sherrington and Emma Turner to discuss representation. The conversation focuses on Aisha’s diversity, equity, and inclusion work and expertise in training classroom educators to increase representation, develop inclusive curriculum, and create a framework for anti-racism/anti-prejudice environments.
‘Being Black’ - A series curated by Sun Kissed Youth, exploring the 'Black' experience
Race? A sense of identity? A shared experience? ‘Being Black’ is not something any of us can qualify on our own. In this series from Sun Kissed Youth, we explore some of the ideas held about the nature, complexity and reality of the ‘Black’ experience.
One Bristol Curriculum : Students' Voice
The One Bristol Curriculum project sees local arts practitioners and historians working together with schools and teachers to create a diverse curriculum that integrates into all core subjects of the whole curriculum.
City Academy Assistant Principal on Newsnight
City Academy Assistant Principal, Aisha Thomas, was asked on a BBC Newsnight special her thoughts on working through the pandemic. This is what Aisha had to say.